stony brook dentistry - Alumni

S C H O O L O F D E N TA L M E D I C I N E
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VOLUME 10
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NUMBER 1
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FA L L 2 0 0 9
STONY BROOK DENTISTRY
TODAY
F
P
O
Dr. Ray Williams Named Dean
Dr. Rifkin Returns to Teaching • 4
School Receives $12.4M Grant • 12
Dental Care Center to Expand • 6
Saluting Our Graduates • 14
Faculty Travel to Kenya • 7
Awards Ceremony Held • 16
Dental Student Research Day Held • 11
Internship Placements • 19
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Table of Contents
Editor’s Note • 1
From the Dean • 2
About Dr. Ray Williams • 3
Dr. Rifkin Returns to Teaching • 4
School Awarded Construction Grant • 6
Anesthesia Program Receives
Accreditation • 6
Mission to Kenya • 7
Faculty Appointments, News • 8
Memorial Scholarship Created • 10
Student Volunteers Explore Dentistry
as Career • 11
Dental Student Research Day • 11
School Receives $12.4M NIDCR Grant • 12
Commencement, 2009/2008 • 14
Awards Ceremony, 2009/2008 • 16
Internships, 2009/2008 • 19
STONY BROOK DENTISTRY TODAY
Volume 10 Number 1 • Fall 2009
On the front cover:
Dean: Ray Williams
Editor: Philias R. Garant
Dr. Ray Williams, an international authority on
periodontal disease and well-respected
researcher, came to Stony Brook University’s
School of Dental Medicine after 15 years at the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Advisory Board:
Maureen Burns, Administration
Debra Cinotti, Student Affairs
Lorne Golub, Research
Allan Kucine, Clinical Affairs
Maria Ryan, Alumni Affairs
Mary Truhlar, Clinical Advanced
Educational Programs
Photo by Sam Levitan
For more information about
the School of Dental Medicine,
contact Dr. Philias Garant at
(631) 632-9414, or visit
Stony Brook University on
the Web at www.stonybrook.edu
This publication was produced
by the Office of University
Communications. © 2009
Assistant Vice President:
Yvette St. Jacques
Editor: Susan Tito
Designer: Tom Giacalone
Photographers:
Dr. Philias Garant, Sam Levitan,
Dr. Steven London, Media Services
Stony Brook University/SUNY is an
affirmative action, equal opportunity
educator and employer. 0903054
This publication is available in
alternative format upon request.
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Editor’s Note: Changing Times at SDM
his past year proved to be an
(Psychology) was appointed assistant profesextraordinary time for the School of
sor in the Department of General Dentistry
Dental Medicine. Major changes
and director of behavioral sciences. She
will restructure and teach the Behavioral
took place in the administrative leadership
Interactions course for predoctoral
of the School, new grants were awarded
students. Read about Drs. Moonga and
for the expansion of clinical facilities and
Cannella on page 9.
research—including one of the largest
In research, Dr. Steven P. Engebretson,
grants ever for a dental clinical trial—and
associate professor of periodontology and
many outstanding faculty were recruited.
Chief among the events of 2008 was
implantology, received a $12.4 million grant
from the National Institute for Dental and
the unexpected resignation of Dean Barry
Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), a branch
Rifkin, who announced last July he was
of the National Institutes of Health—one of
returning to full-time teaching and
Dr. Philias R. Garant
the largest grants ever awarded for a dental
research effective October 1, 2008. Dr.
Rifkin’s many accomplishments during his decade as
clinical trial and the largest NIDCR grant to a School of
dean ensure the continued excellence of the School of
Dental Medicine faculty member (see story on page 12).
Dental Medicine in the 21st centur y (see stor y
The School of Dental Medicine also received a grant
on page 4).
of $3.17 million from the New York State Department of
Dr. Lorne Golub became interim dean and created
Health to renovate and expand the Clinical Care Center.
two administrative positions within the school, naming
Dr. Allan Kucine wrote the grant and will oversee its impleDr. Vincent Iacono associate dean for postgraduate promentation. Details are on page 6.
grams and Dr. Maria Ryan associate dean for strategic
In other news, Dr. Ralph Epstein announced the
planning and external affairs. Both appointments
accreditation of the Advanced Dental Education Program
became effective October 15, 2008. Dr. Golub’s efforts
in Dental Anesthesiology at Stony Brook. The program
helped pave the way for a smooth transition for Dr. Ray
accepted its first three residents for the academic year
Williams, who became the new dean of the School on
last July. You can read about it on page 6.
Februar y 1, 2009. Read all about Dean Williams on
I end this letter on a somber note: It is with great
page 3.
sadness that I report the sudden passing of Dr. Patricia
Also during the past year, the School recruited several Lewis, esteemed colleague, teacher, and friend. Dr.
highly talented members to its faculty: Dr. Stephanos
Lewis was a dedicated and talented faculty member of
Kyrkanides, a board-certified orthodontist and highly
the Department of Children’s Dentistry who inspired
regarded neurobiologist, was named chair of the
everyone who knew her, and she was instrumental in
Department of Children’s Dentistry. His appointment
procuring a $1 million grant to provide special training
represents a significant step in ensuring Stony Brook’s
for general and pediatric dentistry residents to expand
eminence in dental education and research (see story
pediatric dental care programs across Long Island. Dr.
on page 8). Dr. Nora Odingo was named director of the
Lewis contributed immeasurably to the surrounding
General Practice Residency Program, bringing expertise
community and to the School of Dental Medicine, and
and experience in oral pathology, oral medicine, and pubshe was an excellent role model. She will be missed.
lic health dentistry to Stony Brook. She recently led a
The School has since established the Dr. Patricia Lewis
mission to Kenya to explore developing a dental mission
Memorial Scholarship. Find out how you can contribute
in that country. You can read about her trip on page 7.
to this fund on page 10.
Dr. Baljit Moonga was appointed research professor
in the Department of Periodontics and Implantology. He
Dr. Philias R. Garant, Editor
has Ph.D. degrees in medicine and physical/organic
chemistry, and he has conducted research on the biology
of osteoclasts in bone resorption. Dr. Dolores Canella, ’07
T
1
From the Dean
will proceed slowly and get it right.
have been dean at Stony Brook for
a very short time, yet there is so
“The small size of the School We will be forming task forces in
the coming months to investigate
much to convey. First, a matter
of
Dental
Medicine
allows
these ideas, solely and together.
of destiny…
important, we welcome your
Most
When I graduated in 1973 from
unique teaching and research
the Harvard School of Dental
opportunities for our students, comments and input throughout the
entire review process, as it is critical
Medicine’s postdoctoral program in
yet we are in the heart of a to keep the “family” intact and mainperiodontology, my first job offer
came from Dr. Paul Baer, then chair major state university with its tain the soul of the School while creating the best plan possible.
of periodontics at—of all places—
award-winning Health Sciences More details about this are
Stony Brook University.
Undoubtedly Dr. Baer’s offer
Center. From collaborative forthcoming as we move ahead
in the coming year. But back to
was a wonderful opportunity, one
efforts
to
shared
facilities
the present…
that was difficult to pass up, but
The Class of 2014 has been
Dean Paul Goldhaber at Harvard
to partnered academic
was especially persuasive in asking
programs—the prospects at selected—an impressive 40 incoming
students from an outstanding applime to remain in Boston, and so I
Stony Brook seem endless.” cant pool of 1,500. Soon we will be
did, for 21 years. Then, in 1994, I
expanding our clinic with 26 additional
became chair of periodontology at
—Dean Williams
chairs, thanks to a HEAL NY grant
the University of North Carolina at
from New York State that will enable
Chapel Hill (UNC), where I stayed
for 15 years (the years do fly by). But it seems I was des- us to serve our underprivileged population better. In other
tined to be at Stony Brook after all. On February 2, 2009, news, our outreach programs are continuing apace with a
my career came full circle and now I’m here—and I
dental van on order and new continuing education courses
couldn’t be more delighted.
in the works. This place is hopping!
My background at Harvard, a small, private school,
I hope to meet many of you at receptions in the near
combined with my experience at UNC, a larger, public
future, at both this campus and at Stony Brook Manhattan.
school, enabled me to realize that Stony Brook embodies Please introduce yourself and let me know your thoughts
the best of both institutions. The small size of the School
about the School. After all, you are our ambassadors in
of Dental Medicine allows unique teaching and research
the field. I want to create an active dialogue so that you are
opportunities for our students, yet we are in the heart of
aware of all going on here so that we know how best to
a major state university with its award-winning Health
serve you as our alumni.
Sciences Center. From collaborative efforts to shared
During my interview process, someone reminded
facilities to partnered academic programs—the prospects
me that in coming from UNC, the School of Dental
at Stony Brook seem endless.
Medicine would seem small. We may be small but we’re
Keeping in mind the need for more dentists in New
mighty—and we have attitude! We also have an impresYork State and nationwide, then President Shirley Strum
sive international reputation. Knowing that, I can say
Kenny asked, in hiring me, that I consider expanding the with confidence that the future of the School of Dental
School’s teaching mission by increasing our undergraduMedicine is bright and I am honored to be one of the
ate program and establishing an international program.
newest members of the Stony Brook family.
She also requested that I explore the possibility of relocating the School of Dental Medicine next to the
Dr. Ray Williams
Hospital, which would allow for growth.
Dean, School of Dental Medicine
Of course, carrying out all of these ideas would
mean fundamental change for the School, and since our
current economy is on shaky ground, I assure you we
I
2
About Dr. Ray Williams
n February 1, 2009, Dr. Ray Williams, D.M.D.,
was appointed dean of the School of Dental
Medicine, replacing Dr. Barry Rifkin who
returned to teaching. Dr. Williams is a native
of Louisville, Kentucky.
Dr. Williams graduated from the University of
Alabama School of Dentistry then settled in Boston to
study periodontology and microbiology at the Harvard
School of Dental Medicine and The Forsyth Institute. In
1974 he was appointed to the faculty at Harvard, where
he served as associate professor of periodontology,
director of predoctoral periodontology, director of the
Graduate Program in Periodontology, head of the
Department of Periodontology, and associate dean for
graduate education. While in Boston, he also served as
a clinical consultant at the Veterans Administration
Hospital, the Children’s Hospital, and Massachusetts
General Hospital.
In 1994 Dr. Williams joined the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill as a Straumann Distinguished
Professor and chair of the Department of Periodontology.
He is an international authority on periodontal disease who has focused on clinical and translational
research in pharmacological modification of the host
response to periodontal disease. Dr. Williams has also
been a leader in establishing a relationship between
good oral health and systemic health, and the wound
healing response around teeth and dental implants. His
research has focused on the effect of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs in preserving bone in periodontal
disease. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and
pharmaceutical companies—including Osteohealth Inc.,
Periodontix Inc., Pfizer Inc., Procter & Gamble, Sepracor
Inc., and Upjohn Co.—have funded his work. His
research findings have been published in more than 130
papers and chapter contributions.
Dr. Williams has served on several NIH study sections, conference panels, company boards, and organizing committees, such as the International Research
Conference in Periodontology, the European Research
Group for Oral Biology, and the U.K. Oral HealthGeneral Health Roundtable Conference. He also serves
on the editorial boards of, or is a reviewer for, numerous
science and dental education publications.
During his career, Dr. Williams trained approximately
100 periodontologists who have gone on to distinguished
O
careers as private practitioners, deans of dental schools,
chairs of periodontology departments, and industry leaders. Widely respected for his research and teaching
accomplishments, Dr. Williams has received the American
Academy of Periodontology’s Outstanding Educator
Award, the University of North Carolina’s Distinguished
Teaching Award for Post-Baccalaureate Instruction and
Mentoring, the Distinguished Faculty Award of the
Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and the American
Academy of Periodontology’s Gold Medal Award. n
Dr. Ray Williams
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A Legacy of Leadership
Dr. Rifkin received a crystal bowl commemorating ten years as dean of the School of Dental Medicine.
Dr. Rifkin Returns to Teaching
L
ast September members of the faculty and staff of the School of
Dental Medicine gathered at Lombardi’s On The Sound in Port
Jefferson, New York, to celebrate Dr. Barry Rifkin’s accom-
plishments and wish him well on his return to the teaching faculty.
Dr. Philias Garant, professor of periodontics and former dean of the
School of Dental Medicine, led a tribute to Dr. Rifkin by reviewing his
academic achievements and accomplishments as dean, an appointment Dr. Rifkin held from 1998.
As the evening progressed, several faculty members spoke about
Dr. Rifkin: Dr. Craig Lehmann, executive dean of health sciences; Dr.
Allan Kucine, associate dean for clinical affairs; Maureen Burns, executive associate dean; Dr. Mary Truhlar, chair of the Department of
General Dentistry; and Dr. Alice Urbankova, assistant professor of
general dentistry. Dr. Rifkin rose to the podium and reminisced over
some of the most significant events of the School’s recent past and
thanked all who had assisted him in guiding the School administration
during his deanship. The festivities concluded with an unveiling of
a portrait of Dr. Rifkin.
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During the past ten years, Dr. Rifkin
brought Stony Brook’s dental research
and clinical programs to new levels of
excellence. One of his chief accomplishments was to increase the efficiency of the Dental Care Center.
Under his direction and leadership,
and with the assistance of Dr. Kucine
and Carol Sloane as director of clinic
operations, the number of patient visits
to the Dental Care Center increased
nearly 40 percent to about 55,000 per
year, and the School’s clinical income
increased by nearly 42 percent.
Dr. Rifkin also grew the size of the
School through new income from educational grants and increased clinical
efficiency—despite the fact the Stateappropriated portion of the School’s
budget decreased. In addition, during
his tenure, new postdoctoral programs were begun in pediatric dentistry and dental anesthesia, and outreach programs were started in
Madagascar, the Pine Ridge Indian
Reservation in South Dakota, and in
the Shinnecock Reservation on the
East End of Long Island.
Under Dr. Rifkin’s leadership,
the School of Dental Medicine became
the first dental school in the country to
introduce a digital paperless system for
patient records and clinic management.
Dental radiology was upgraded to digital radiography, and clinic spaces and
research laboratories were renovated.
Dr. Rifkin was instrumental in
recruiting many dental faculty to
Stony Brook. Among the appointments to full-time faculty positions in
the School’s academic and research
programs were Drs. George Bruder,
Daniel Colosi, Steven Engebretsen,
Soosan Ghazizadeh, Stephanos
Kyrkanides, Patricia Lewis, Lucille
and Steven London, Baljit Moonga,
Nora Odingo, Denise Trochesset,
Alice Urbankova, and Steven Walker.
In selecting new faculty, Dean Rifkin
said that research and the discovery
of new knowledge must be the foundation of every department.
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The best measure of Dr. Rifkin’s
performance as dean were the back-toback superlative accreditation reports
in which the School received only
commendations and no recommendations—a feat few other dental schools
had ever achieved.
“It can be said that the past ten years
have been among the best in the short
history of the School of Dental Medicine
because of Dean Rifkin,” said Garant. “In
almost every area of our school he has
made a difference. He has many academic
accomplishments but his efforts go far
beyond overseeing our fine programs.
He has even re-energized our alumni
association and encouraged graduates to
volunteer as teachers,” Garant said.
Dr. Rifkin earned a B.S. degree at
Ohio State University in 1961, an M.S.
degree in physiology at the University of
Illinois in 1964, a D.D.S. degree at
Temple University School of Dentistry in
1968, and a Ph.D. degree in 1973 in
experimental pathology at the University
of Rochester School of Medicine and
Dentistry, where he was later recruited
as assistant professor in the Department
of Pathology.
In 1980 he joined the New York
University College of Dentistry as
associate professor and chair of the
Department of Oral Diagnosis and
Radiology. In 1991 he was named head
of the Division of Basic Sciences at
New York University School of
Dentistry, overseeing anatomy, biochemistry, histology, hospital dentistry, microbiology, oral medicine and
pathology, pharmacology, physiology,
and special patient care. There he rejuvenated the basic science units within
the dental school by recruiting new
and established research scientists.
While at the University of Rochester
and at New York University College of
Dentistry, Dr. Rifkin’s studies centered
on the origin and biology of osteoclasts.
He was the first researcher to identify
preosteoclasts from among macrophage
cell types in various tissues. For more
than two decades, Dr. Rifkin collaborated
with numerous bone biologists in studying and publishing research related
to the regulation of osteoclasts by
prostaglandins, tetracyclines, estrogens,
extracellular calcium, and, recently, by
chemically modified tetracyclines.
His expertise in bone resorption
led to publication in 1992 of a key
monograph (co-edited with C.K. Gay)
titled “Biology and Physiology of the
Osteoclast” by CRC Press of Boca
Raton, Florida. During his active
investigative years, Dr. Rifkin held
numerous grants from CollaGenex
Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson,
and the National Institutes of Health
(NIH). He served as a member of the
editorial board of the Journal of
Dental Research, a reviewer of grants
and programs for NIH and the
National Science Foundation, and was
an external reviewer for a long list of
dental and basic science journals.
Dr. Rifkin’s research career is documented in more than 50 peerreviewed publications. n
Dr. Rifkin (center) with (from left) his sons Karl and Avery, wife Linda, and daughter Hanna
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Dr. Allan Kucine (left) with Carol Sloane
Dental School Receives Construction Grant
to Expand Dental Care Center
The School of Dental Medicine
recently received a $3.17 million grant
to expand its Dental Care Center
(DCC), establish new services, and
expand its primary care capacity. The
New York State Department of Health
made the award after reviewing proposals from four New York dental
schools. Stony Brook’s grant proposal
was prepared during Dr. Barry
Rifkin’s administration with the assistance of Carol Sloane, director of clinic
operations, and Dr. Allan Kucine,
associate dean for clinical affairs, who
wrote the grant and who will oversee
its implementation.
“In preparing a convincing case for
making an award to Stony Brook, we
described the rapid rise of the School
of Dental Medicine’s patient population
as its capacity to increase services was
[stymied] by inadequate clinical
space,” said Kucine.
He said during the past six years
the number of patients registered at
the DCC grew approximately 35 percent, from 7,307 to 9,838, and patient
visits increased approximately 41
percent, from 38,487 to 54,456.
“Working at full capacity with our
existing operatories resulted in a
6
plateau in the growth of dental ser vices,” he said, adding that the School
created a waiting list for several hundred patients who need primar y oral
health care ser vices.
The group exhibiting the most dramatic growth is patients enrolled in
dental Medicaid programs. From fiscal
year ’97-’98 through fiscal year ’06-’07,
the number of patients with Medicaid
coverage rose 66.5 percent. In fiscal
year ’06-’07, 25 percent of the DCC’s
patient population was enrolled in dental Medicaid programs. Because of the
limited number of providers participating
in dental Medicaid programs on Long
Island, it is likely the growth in the
number of Medicaid patients seeking
care at the School will continue,
Kucine said.
“The DCC has become the safety
net for the poor, the underserved, the
pediatric and geriatric populations,
patients with systemic conditions that
impact upon, or are affected by their
oral health, and those patients with
special needs,” he said.
The construction grant will fund
the addition of 1,500 square feet of
new construction, and through the
reassignment of existing nonclinical
space to clinical space, the DCC will
gain 4,975 square feet. The new clinical space will house 29 dental operatories and an emergency dental clinic.
Grant funds will also provide for a
mobile dental clinic providing an estimated 4,500 underserved patients
with access to primary oral health
care services.
“The School will be able to improve
access and reduce barriers to care by
providing education, preventive services,
comprehensive care, and emergency
services to a broader population of the
underserved in local community settings,” said Sloane.
Based on the number of dental students and clinical postdoctoral fellows
assigned to the additional operatories,
it is estimated the number of patients
at the DCC will increase by at least
20 percent, and patient visits will
increase by at least 15 percent. It is
also estimated that an additional 2,279
patients will be treated in the DCC,
resulting in 8,850 additional patient
visits per year.
Stony Brook University Capital
Projects Manager Laura Pellizzi is
overseeing the progress of the construction project, which is expected to
be completed next spring.
Dental Anesthesia
Residency Program
Receives Accreditation
The Commission on Dental
Accreditation (CODA) recently granted
accreditation to Stony Brook’s
Advanced Dental Education Program
in Dental Anesthesiology. Stony Brook
became the ninth dental anesthesia
residency program in the United
States and Canada, only four of which
are CODA-accredited. The Stony
Brook program, which is two years
long, accepted its first three residents
for the academic year beginning July 1,
2008. It expanded to four residents per
year in July 2009.
Stony Brook’s program was developed with several objectives: To train
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dentists to provide a full spectrum of
sedation and anesthesia services to
children, adults, and patients with special needs in the ambulatory and inpatient setting for dental procedures,
and to train educators and researchers
in the field of dental anesthesiology.
In creating the program, Stony
Brook staff looked at how dental anesthesiology is being practiced throughout the United States and how that
practice may change in the next
several decades.
Program Director Dr. Ralph
Epstein,’78, said designing and developing a new residency program was no
simple task. “Many people within
Stony Brook University Medical
Center and the School of Dental
Medicine provided their advice and
time in helping to prepare the written
application and present information
to the Commission on Dental
Accreditation site visit examiners,”
he said.
He cited Drs. Robert Reiner and
Martin Boorin, and faculty within
Stony Brook University Medical
Dr. Ralph Epstein
Center and the Department of
Anesthesiology, responsible for helping the program achieve accreditation.
Dr. Epstein completed a residency
in general practice in 1979, and another
in dental anesthesiology in 1981 at
Long Island Jewish Medical Center.
In 1996 he became a diplomate of the
National Board of Anesthesiology.
Stony Brook Director’s Mission to Kenya
Stony Brook faculty traveled to Kenya to explore developing a dental mission there.
Dr. Nora A.A.
Odingo, new program director
of the General
Practice Residency
Program at the
School of Dental
Medicine, recently
traveled to Kenya
to explore developing a dental mission in that country. Dr. Steven
London, associate dean for academic
affairs, accompanied Dr. Odingo.
The trip to Kenya included a visit
to the dental school of the University
of Nairobi. While there, Dr. Odingo, a
Kenya native, and the Stony Brook
team discussed the possibility of
Stony Brook making a significant
contribution in both education and
clinical care.
This past summer Dr. Laurence
Wynn, clinical assistant professor in
the Department of General Dentistry,
returned to Kenya, accompanied by three
Stony Brook dental students. The team
continued to assess whether Stony Brook
can play a role in providing much needed
dental services to the African nation.
In addition to her role in the mission
to Kenya, Dr. Odingo is co-director of
Stony Brook’s predoctoral course in oral
medicine. She frequently lectures in the
predoctoral curriculum owing to extensive knowledge of oral pathology, oral
medicine, general dentistry, and
tobacco dependency.
Dr. Odingo’s “presence at Stony
Brook brings a new perspective on
global dental needs, as well as on the
more traditional aspects of the dental
curriculum,” said Dean Ray Williams.
She received a bachelor of dental
surgery degree from the University of
Nairobi, Kenya, in 1990. She continued her studies in the United States,
earning a Master of Public Health
degree from East Stroudsburg
University, Pennsylvania, in 1993, and
a D.M.D. degree from the University
of Pennsylvania School of Dental
Medicine in 1995. From there, she
completed a certificate program in
Advanced Education in Dental Public
Health at the University of Texas in
1997. She also completed a three-year
program in oral and maxillofacial
pathology at New York Medical
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Center of Queens, New York.
From 1997 to 2007, Dr. Odingo
served as an attending dentist at
Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx,
New York, and at York Health Corp.
in York, Pennsylvania. In October
2007 she was appointed clinical assistant professor in the Department of
General Dentistry at Stony Brook.
Dr. Odingo is licensed to practice
dentistr y in New Jersey, New York,
and Pennsylvania. She is a diplomate of the American Board of Oral
and Maxillofacial Pathology and a
fellow of the American Academy of
Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. In
addition, she is a trained tobacco
dependence treatment specialist.
Faculty Appointments
Dr. Stephanos Kyrkanides (left) and Dr. Lorne Golub
Top: The trip to Kenya included a visit to the University of Nairobi School of Dental Sciences.
Bottom: The Stony Brook team lands in Kenya.
8
Dr. Stephanos Kyrkanides, D.D.S.,
M.S., Ph.D., was appointed chair of the
Department of Children’s Dentistry. Dr.
Kyrkanides, former J.D. Subtelny professor, chair of orthodontics, and associate director for research at the
Eastman Dental Center of the
University of Rochester, also served as
associate chairman for dentistry at the
University of Rochester School of
Medicine and Dentistry.
Dr. Kyrkanides received his D.D.S.
degree from the School of Dentistry
of the University of Athens, Greece, in
1991. From 1992 to 1995 he studied at
the Eastman Dental Center, where he
was awarded certificates in orthodontics and temporomandibular joint disorders. From 1995 to 1999 he completed
graduate studies in neurobiology and
anatomy, earning an M.S. degree in
1997 and a Ph.D. degree in 1999, followed by a three-year postdoctoral fellowship in gene therapy at the
University of Rochester. In 2001 Dr.
Kyrkanides became licensed to practice
dentistry in New York State.
During the past ten years Dr.
Kyrkanides served the dental
research community. He was principal
investigator on several National
Institutes of Health (NIH) grants for
research on neuroinflammation, gangliosidosis, neurodegeneration, and
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temporomandibular joint disorders. He
also collaborated on studies of cadherins
in photocarcinogenesis and in the role
of proteoglycans in keratinocyte adhesion. Most recently his work focused on
the role of interleukin signaling in neuron-induced joint pathology.
Dr. Kyrkanides serves as a reviewer
for the American Journal of Orthodontics
and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Brain
Research, The Journal of Dental
Research, and Glia. He consults on several NIH study sections and for the
March of Dimes Foundation, and he is
the author or co-author of 60 papers in
peer-reviewed journals.
In addition to his direct responsibilities for content and conduct of the
predoctoral dental curriculum of the
Department of Children’s Dentistry,
Dr. Kyrkanides will oversee the
advanced postdoctoral dental education program in orthodontics.
Because of his research interests, Dr.
Kyrkanides’ focus may extend to
research training in the School’s clinical postdoctoral programs.
“The addition of Dr. Kyrkanides to
the School of Dental Medicine is considered a major achievement toward
the continued growth of Stony Brook
University’s place in dental research
and clinical training,” said Dean
Ray Williams.
Dr. Dolores Cannella
Dr. Dolores Cannella brings new
expertise in psychology to the educational programs of the School of Dental
Medicine. As assistant professor in the
Department of General Dentistry and
director of behavioral sciences, Dr.
Cannella will restructure and teach
behavioral interactions for predoctoral
students. In addition, she will initiate
clinical research programs and collaborate in other projects at the School.
Dr. Cannella earned her B.A. and
M.A. degrees from Long Island
University, C.W. Post campus, prior to
obtaining her Ph.D. in psychology from
Stony Brook University in 2007. She has
won several teaching awards, including
the Margaret Tatz Memorial Award in
Psychology from Long Island University
(1999), Award for Excellence in
Teaching from Stony Brook University’s
Department of Psychology (2006), and
President’s Award for Excellence in
Teaching by a Graduate Student at
Stony Brook University (2007).
She was an adjunct professor
at Nassau Community College,
State University of New York at
Old Westbury, and Stony Brook
Southampton. At Stony Brook’s School
of Medicine, Dr. Cannella is a facilitator
for the first-year course, Foundations of
Medical Practice, and she is participating in the Fellowship for Medical
Education, a two-year training program
for teaching scholars.
Dr. Cannella’s areas of interest
involve employing social psychological
theories to investigate adaptation to
chronic illness, stress, and coping, and
the promotion of health behaviors in disadvantaged and underserved populations. Dr. Cannella has presented
papers before the American
Psychological Association, Association
for Psychological Science, and the
Society of Behavioral Medicine.
Dr. Baljit S. Moonga, distinguished
researcher, respected teacher, and
revered administrator, was recently
appointed research professor in the
Department of Periodontics and
Implantology. He came to Stony Brook
from Mount Sinai School of Medicine,
New York. Dr. Moonga’s initial research
training was in physical-organic
Dr. Baljit S. Moonga
chemistry, which led to a Ph.D. from
Brunel University, U.K., but he soon
shifted focus toward cell and molecular
biology and received a second Ph.D. in
medicine from St. George’s Hospital
Medical School at the University of
London, U.K.
Dr. Moonga has held senior
research and faculty positions at several
institutions, including the University of
London, where he was senior fellow;
Columbia University, where he was
assistant professor; University of
Pennsylvania, where he was research
assistant professor; and Mount Sinai
School of Medicine, where he was associate professor.
He made a profound impact on
skeletal research, for which he is
known internationally, codiscovering
the calcium-sensing receptor on the
osteoclast, a cell that resorbs bone and
the overactivity of which causes osteoporosis. That discovery unraveled a fundamental mechanism through which
the osteoclast is regulated by ionized
calcium, which is generated during
hydroxyapatite dissolution. Dr. Moonga
is widely recognized for this contribution—he made the first measurements
9
NEWSNEWSNEWS
of intracellular calcium in bone cells
using fluorescent dye technology. He
continued his research on osteoclast
regulation by ions, hormones, and
cytokines, and he was the first
researcher to predict that different isoforms of the calcitonin receptor signal
differently through distinct G proteins
and second messengers. He later
demonstrated that the osteoclast calcium
sensor was a calcium channel of the
ryanodine receptor family.
Dr. Moonga has authored or coauthored more than 127 book chapters
or peer-reviewed articles in journals,
forming an excellent foundation for
future studies on osteoclast formation
and function studies.
In addition to his fundamental contributions to bone biology during the
past two decades, Dr. Moonga was
administrator of a federally funded
research center, the Geriatric Research
Education and Clinical Center
(GRECC) at the James J. Peters VA
Medical Center, Bronx, N.Y. There he
was instrumental in recruiting 32 faculty members and administering the
center’s clinical, research, and educational missions.
Dr. Moonga has developed several
programs since joining the School of
Dental Medicine, among them the predental fellowship and undergraduate
research program, and he has served
as a catalyst in motivating undergraduates and dental students to participate
in research.
Dr. Patricia Lewis Memorial Scholarship Fund Created
Faculty News
Dr. Steven Engebretson was appointed
associate editor for clinical research at
the Journal of Periodontology.
Dr. Lorne Golub was named chair of
the search committee for the vice president of the Health Sciences Center.
Dr. Vincent Iacono was appointed
associate dean for postgraduate
programs at the School of
Dental Medicine.
Dr. Maria Ryan was named associate
dean for strategic planning and
external affairs.
10
Dr. Lewis was the founding director of the
postgraduate program in pediatric dentistry.
The School of Dental Medicine recently
established the Dr. Patricia Lewis
Memorial Scholarship fund in memory
of Dr. Patricia Lewis, who passed away
last year. This endowed scholarship
will be awarded to a dental student
who excels in pediatric dentistry and
community service.
Dr. Lewis came to Stony Brook
University in August 2005 after a
successful career as director of the
post-doctoral program in pediatric dentistry at St. Barnabas Hospital in New
York. While at Stony Brook, Dr. Lewis
was instrumental in developing the
predoctoral clinical and didactic
curriculum, and she helped coordinate
the School’s outreach efforts in Nassau
and Suffolk counties. Dr. Lewis served
on numerous committees at the School
and was the creator and founding
director of the postgraduate program
in pediatric dentistry.
Donations to the scholarship fund
should be made payable to the Stony
Brook Foundation.
Please note 310780 in the memo
line and mail to the following address:
Dr. Patricia Lewis
Memorial Scholarship
Stony Brook Foundation Inc.
230 Administration Building
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY 11794-1188
STUDENTNEWS
Student Volunteers Explore
Dentistry as a Career
Undergraduate students at Stony Brook
University interested in pursuing dentistry as a career can cut their teeth on
the profession by volunteering at the
School of Dental Medicine as observers
in the Dental Care Center or as a member of a research project. By establishing face-to-face contact with dental students, patients, and members of the
faculty, prospective candidates can
weigh the pros and cons of a career in
dental medicine.
Senior Forouzan Alvari did just that.
The health care management major
volunteered in the Department of
Children’s Dentistry and helped develop
an assessment tool for predicting children’s future oral health. Her research,
supervised by Dr. Fred Ferguson, professor of children’s dentistry, involved
designing a questionnaire for young
mothers whose children receive clinical
care at the School of Dental Medicine.
By inquiring about the children’s
medical history, dietary habits, and
behavior, as well as analyzing parenting
attitudes and clinical exams, Alvari was
able to map out a blueprint of that child’s
future dental health. This assessment is
used to educate parents and plan a program to optimize their children’s future
oral health.
Alvari said working on this project
taught her the importance of early preventative dental checkups and care for
children. In addition, she said, many
dental illnesses children develop can be
easily prevented if parents establish
proper oral hygiene habits for them.
Family income often determines a
family’s frequency of dental visits, Alvari
added, citing that many of the children
from lower-income families in the study
had significant dental problems, and that
those parents often postpone a visit to
the dentist until a child experienced pain
or infection. She also learned that obstetricians and pediatricians play key roles
in reinforcing to parents the importance
of good oral health in early childhood.
In her many sessions with Dr.
Ferguson, Alvari said she gained a
more comprehensive view of the
importance of good oral health. “I now
realize that research indicates associations between chronic oral infections
and diabetes, stroke, heart and lung
diseases, and premature low-weight
births,” she said.
Having completed her “internship” in
the Department of Children’s Dentistry,
Alvari said she is now more convinced
than ever that a career in dentistry is in
her future.
Students Make
Presentations,
Receive Awards
Dental Student Research Day was
held in conjunction with the annual
School of Dental Medicine’s Sreebny
Symposium last March. Dr. Michael
Glick, professor of oral medicine at the
Arizona School of Dental Medicine,
delivered the symposium address
titled “The Role of Dentists in Overall
Health and Well-Being.”
Following Dr. Glick’s address, Dr.
Christopher Cutler, associate dean for
research, introduced Austin Leong,
Erica Ravin, Noor Us Sabah, and Piya
Trehan—the four students selected to
present their research projects in competition for several awards. After
each 15-minute presentation, the
student speakers participated in a
question-and-answer session with
members of the audience.
A panel of judges consisting of
Veronica Henry and Drs. Christopher
Cutler, Philias Garant, Stephanos
Kyrkanides, Mary Truhlar, and Steven
Walker rated the speakers on key
points such as scientific merit of their
research projects, style of presentation, audiovisual effectiveness, and the
students’ ability to field questions from
the audience.
This year’s first-place winner was
freshman Ravin, who received $500 for
her paper “Expression of Atherogenic
Markers in Chronic Periodontitis by P.
gingivalis Stimulated Dendritic Cells”
and a $4,000 award from the New York
Academy of Dentistry to support a
summer research fellowship. In
October Ravin will travel to Hawaii to
attend the annual meeting of the
American Dental Association, where
she will give a poster presentation of
her research. The trip is sponsored by
Dentsply Corp. Leong, Sabah, and
Trehan received certificates of accomplishment and cash prizes.
Drs. Cutler and Baljit Moonga,
research professor in the Department
of Periodontics and Implantology,
organized and supervised Dental
Student Research Day, which was
sponsored by several dental pharmaceutical companies. n
From left: Dr. Michael Glick, Erica Ravin, Dr. Baljit Moonga, Piya Trehan, Dr. Christopher Cutler,
Noor Us Sabah, and Austin Leong
11
School Receives $12.4M NIDCR Grant
Study to Explore Link Between Periodontitis
Treatment, Control of Type 2 Diabetes
D
r. Steven Engebretson, D.M.D., M.S. (periodontology), M.S. (biostatistics)
was recently awarded a $12.4 million research grant from the National
Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), a branch of the
National Institutes of Health (NIH), to evaluate whether the treatment of
chronic periodontitis improves the control of diabetes. The grant is one of the
largest of its kind granted for a dental clinical trial—“and by far the largest
NIDCR grant ever awarded to a School of Dental Medicine faculty member,”
said Dr. Vincent Iacono, chair of the Department of Periodontics.
Engebretson: The periodontitis-diabetes treatment study is significant because “the costs associated with diabetes are enormous…”
12
center will be located at Stony Brook
University. “Our study will address limitations of prior studies and will follow
the highest standards for clinical trial
design and conduct,” said Leslie
Hyman, Ph.D., director of the coordinating center for the study and professor in
Stony Brook University’s Department of
Preventive Medicine.
About Dr. Engebretson
Insulin has long been used to treat diabetes, but can periodontal therapy improve glycemic control?
he significance of the study is
underscored by public health estimates that diabetes now affects
6.3 percent of the U.S. population, or
18,200,000 people. The American
Diabetes Association estimated that in
2002 the direct cost of diabetes care
alone in the United States was $132
billion. “The costs associated with diabetes care are enormous, making diabetes the third most expensive disease to manage in the U.S.,” said Dr.
Engebretson, who is principal investigator and will coordinate and evaluate
the progress of this complex study.
Recent data have shown that poor
glycemic control in type 2 diabetes
patients is associated with greater
severity of periodontitis. Patients with
relatively good glycemic control (lowered levels of blood sugar) are less
prone to periodontal destruction,
according to studies.
The blood level of HbA1c (hemoglobin A1c) or glycosylated hemoglobin is widely used as a marker of
glycemic control and type 2 diabetes.
Individuals with elevated HbA1c are
prone to develop type 2 diabetes
and micro- and macrovascular
diabetic complications.
A survey recently conducted by a
large health maintenance organization
found that for every 1 percent increase
in HbA1c above 6 percent, the cost of
care increases 4 percent. Although the
association between the severity of
T
chronic periodontitis and poor glycemic
control in type 2 diabetic patients is well
established, it is unknown whether the
reverse is true and if periodontal therapy
improves glycemic control as measured
by HbA1c.
Limited clinical studies have suggested that HbA1c levels may be
reduced by periodontal treatment but
there has been no adequately powered
clinical trial to test the hypothesis that
treatment of chronic periodontitis can
lead to improved glycemic control,
thereby ameliorating the diabetic condition and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Clinical Sites
The NIDCR grant will fund a multicenter Phase III trial that is randomized,
controlled, and single masked to determine if nonsurgical periodontal therapy
(scaling and root planing) is efficacious
in reducing elevated glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in people with type 2
diabetes and untreated moderate to
advanced chronic periodontitis. Six hundred adults with type 2 diabetes and
chronic periodontitis will be randomized
at three clinical sites: the University
of Alabama in Birmingham, the
University of Minnesota in Minneapolis,
and the University of Texas Health
Science Center in San Antonio.
The core laboratory will be located
at the University of Minnesota; the
study chair’s office and coordinating
Dr. Engebretson is a native of Minnesota
who received a B.A. degree from New
York University prior to studying dentistry at the Harvard School of Dental
Medicine. Following completion of his
D.M.D. degree from Harvard in 1995,
he obtained an M.S. in periodontology
from Columbia University in 1998. In
2005 Dr. Engebretson earned an M.S.
degree in biostatistics from the Mailman
School of Public Health at Columbia
University. In 2005 he joined the faculty
of the School of Dental Medicine, where
he now serves as associate professor
of periodontology.
A diplomate of the American Board
of Periodontology, Dr. Engebretson limits his practice to periodontology and
dental implantology. His research
focuses on the role of cytokines in the
progression of periodontitis and on the
relationship of chronic periodontitis to
diabetes and other systemic diseases.
Dr. Engebretson has published
numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of
Periodontology, Journal of Clinical
Periodontology, European Journal of Oral
Sciences, and Stroke. He was recently
appointed associate editor of the Journal
of Periodontology. n
Model of human insulin molecule
13
ACADEMICEVENTS
Saluting Our Graduates H 2009 and 2008
2009
As the North Point Brass Quintet played
“Pomp and Circumstance,” School of
Dental Medicine graduates, faculty, and
distinguished members of the platform
party filed into the Student Activities
Center Auditorium. Dean Ray Williams
greeted all those present and introduced
special members of the platform party.
In quoting poet Hermann Hesse,
Dean Williams said, “In all beginnings
there dwells a magic force.” He spoke of
the excitement of the day and the opportunities that lie ahead for members of the
graduating class as they begin the next
chapter in their lives. Michael E. Russell,
member of the SUNY Board of Trustees,
congratulated the graduates on behalf of
the Board of Trustees of the State
University of New York. Dr. Barry Rifkin,
the immediate past dean of the School of
Dental Medicine, delivered a special
message to the graduates, reflecting on
how productive their four years had been
at Stony Brook.
14
Dr. Ray Williams
Dean Williams introduced Dr.
Pamela Combs (Class of ’89) as the
recipient of the 2009 Distinguished
Alumna Award. Dr. Combs has risen to
the rank of colonel in the Air Force
Reserve, had served in Iraq, and, as a
private dentist, has led numerous medical missions around the world.
ACADEMICEVENTS
The commencement speaker was Dr.
Robert A. Faiella, First District trustee for
the American Dental Association and chair
of the ADA Electronic Health Record
Workgroup. Dr. Faiella spoke of the
American Dental Association’s move to
maximize the benefits of new digital technologies in dental practice. He urged the
graduates to become involved in professional organizations and to take advantage
of the benefits of membership.
Dr. Leonard Goldstein, president of
the Suffolk County Dental Society, presented the Suffolk County Dental Society
Award to Gianna Ferrante. Dr. Maria
Ryan, professor of oral biology and pathology and president of the Sigma Tau
Chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon fraternity, presented this year’s inductees:
Natalie S. Bitton, Jigar S. Gandhi,
Christopher J. Joubert, and Matthew
A. Paonessa.
Dr. David
Krause, distinguished service
professor in the
Department of
Anatomical
Sciences and
Department of
Geosciences,
served as grand
marshal. He
spoke about the
graduates’ first
year when he
Dr. David Krause
taught them
gross anatomy and reminisced about how
they had transformed from inexperienced
and cautious freshmen to competent professionals. He wished the graduates
every success as he called them to
come forth to receive their diplomas
and to be hooded by the marshals, Drs.
David Anolik, Charles Bythewood, Mark
Pancotto, Andrew Schwartz, Denise
Trochesset, and Steven Zove. Thirtyseven graduates received the Doctor of
Dental Surgery degree; 11 certificates
of specialization were awarded to postdoctoral fellows for completion of
advanced dental education programs.
Todd Brilliant was the student
speaker. In keeping with School tradition, Brilliant recounted the humorous
events and highlights of the preceding
four years. Dr. Krause ended the
ceremony with the reading of the
Dentist’s Pledge.
2008
The 2008 School of Dental Medicine
Commencement Ceremony was held May
23 in the Student Activities Center. Grand
marshal Dr. William Tinkler, along with
faculty marshals Drs. David Anolik, Fred
Ferguson, David H. Hershkowitz, Denise
A. Trochesset, Christine Valestrand, and
Ling Xu, led the graduates, faculty, and
members of the platform party in a processional to the auditorium.
Former Dean Barry Rifkin welcomed
parents and friends of the class of 2008 to
Stony Brook University. Among the platform party were special quests Dr. Jane
Yahil, assistant vice president of the Health
Sciences Center; Dr. Steven Gold, president of the New York State Dental
Association; Dr. Jeffrey Seiver, president
of the Suffolk County Dental Society; and
2008 distinguished speaker Dr. Richard
Odingo, vice chair, United Nations
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change and professor in the Department
of Geography and Environmental Studies
at the University of Nairobi in Kenya.
Dr. Odingo, recent winner of a Nobel
Prize for his work on climate change,
spoke of the global challenge of atmospheric warming and problems of environmental pollution. He stressed the
urgency and the need for individual and
national responsibility in reversing the
present trend.
Thirty seven D.D.S. degrees and
seven postdoctoral certificates for completion of Advanced Dental Education
Programs were awarded. Directors of
the Advanced Educational Programs in
endodontics, orthodontics, and periodontics presented certificates of completion to the following postdoctoral fellows: Drs. Michael B. Loftis and Megan
Shemanski (endodontics); Katherin K.
Kim, Bahn Y. Moon, and Jose C.V.
Rodriguez (orthodontics); and Stuart J.
Heimann and Albert Yoo (periodontics).
Alexander Bolger was the 2008 student speaker. As is tradition among student presenters, Bolger recalled some of
the more humorous events of the past
four years of training. He also praised the
faculty for its patience and dedication in
preparing the class of 2008 to provide the
best in dental care to their patients.
The ceremony concluded with Dean
Rifkin’s closing remarks and the reading of the Dentist’s Pledge, led by
Dr. Tinkler.
Top: Keynote speaker Dr. Richard Odingo;
Bottom: 2008 student speaker Alexander Bolger
15
ACADEMICEVENTS
Awards Ceremony Honors High-Achieving Students
From left: OKU inductees Natalie Bitton, Jigar Ghandi, Christopher Joubert, and Matthew Paonessa
2009
In his first School of Dental Medicine
Awards Ceremony, Dean Ray Williams
greeted the graduating class with a round
of applause and introduced the many special guests attending the ceremony, which
was well attended by parents, spouses,
friends, and faculty.
Dr. Steven London, associate dean for
academic affairs, opened the program by
introducing the graduates elected to
Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the honor fraternity of dentistry. The 2009 inductees,
selected on the basis of high academic
achievement and sterling character, were
Natalie Bitton, Jigar Ghandi, Christopher
Joubert, and Matthew Paonessa.
Anita Stavin received the New York
State Dental Foundation Dean’s Award,
which is given to third-year students
demonstrating an exceptional level of
achievement through outstanding academic
performance, commitment to enhancing
and improving the oral health of underserved populations, and membership in
the American Dental Student Association.
Dr. Edward Anker, trustee of the New
York State Dental Association, presented
the award.
16
The Charles and Maria Ryan
Scholarship for Future Academicians,
established by Drs. Maria and Charles
Ryan to foster the development of future
dental academicians, was awarded to
Helen Rozenfeld. Dr. Anthony Casino, clinical professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery and chairman of the School of Dental
Medicine Alumni Board, presented the
Alumni Award to Bryan Merium, a senior
student who had demonstrated exceptional
community service, leadership, and vision
for the future of the School.
Ava Rosenbloom received the Sachem
Dental Group Scholarship Award, presented
by Drs. Robert Cella and Anthony Gentile
of the Sachem Dental Group. This award
provides a four-year scholarship to a firstyear dental student who is a resident of
New York State and who achieves and
maintains a standard of excellence,
demonstrates a commitment to service
through community activities, and exemplifies professional and ethical behavior.
The Leon Eisenbud Oral Pathology
Award, established in recognition of the
contributions of Dr. Leon Eisenbud to the
School of Dental Medicine, was presented
to Joubert, the graduate who demonstrated
outstanding ability in the field of oral
pathology. Joubert also received the
Dimitrios Kilimtzoglou Pioneer in
Dentistry Award, presented by Dr.
Kilimtzoglou, clinical assistant professor in
the Department of General Dentistry, and
Mr. Edward Reilly, regional manager for
Henry Schein Dental.
Dr. Allan Kucine, associate dean for
clinical affairs and acting chairman of the
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial
Surgery, presented the New York State
Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon’s
Award to Paonessa, the graduate who
demonstrated outstanding ability in the
field of oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Lindsey Diane Scheer received the
American Academy of Orofacial Pain
Award for having shown the greatest interest and commitment to temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain. Dr.
Donald Tanenbaum presented that award.
In memory of Dr. Patricia Lewis, former
associate professor in the Department of
Pediatric Dentistry, the Dr. Patricia Lewis
Memorial Scholarship was established to
recognize a third-year student who excels
Helen Rozenfeld (center) with Drs. Charles
and Maria Ryan
in pediatric dentistry and community service. Frank Pecorelli Jr. Esq. presented the
award to LoanAnh Bui.
In addition, Dr. Vincent Iacono pre-
ACADEMICEVENTS
Stephanie Weiss—were selected from the
top 20 percent of the senior class on the
basis of their academic excellence and
exemplary character.
Kroboth received the Long Island
Academy of Odontology Award, which is
presented to the graduating student
with the highest academic average.
Christopher Joubert received the
William Kramer Award of Excellence,
which is given to the third-year dental
student who has achieved the highest
academic average, and the Suffolk
County Dental Society award, given to
the third-year student who demonstrated
the highest level of general clinical competency. Dr. Jeffrey Siever, president of
the Suffolk County Dental Society, presented that award.
Other special interest awards were
the Pierre Fauchard Award for leadership, given to Regina Hendricks; the
International College of Dentists Award
for the greatest professional growth and
development, awarded to Sergey
Berenshteyn; the Nancy Wender
National Dental Board High
Achievement Award, given to Joubert;
the Dental Care for the Developmentally
Disabled Award, given to Jason Kneller
From top, clockwise: (left to right) Edward Reilly, Christopher Joubert, and Dr. Dimitrios
Kilimitzoglou; LoanAnh Bui with Frank Pecorelli Jr. Esq.; Bryan Meriam with Dr. Anthony Casino;
and Dr. Denise Trochesset and Joubert
sented the International Congress of
Oral Implantologists and the SullivanSchein Dental Predoctoral Achievement
awards to Gandhi.
All in all, departments at the School
of Dental Medicine made 41 awards for
clinical achievements and seven student
organization awards were conferred
for leadership and overall support of
the school.
In his closing remarks, Dr. London
congratulated the graduating class and
award recipients for their commitment to
academic excellence.
2008
The School of Dental Medicine’s 2008
Awards Ceremony was held on May 7.
Dean Barry Rifkin welcomed parents
and friends to the School of Dental
Medicine and thanked the students for
their determination and hard work during the past four years.
Dr. Steven London, associate dean for
academic affairs, introduced the newest
inductees to Omicron Kappa Upsilon,
the national dental honor society. Four
students—Matthew Battiste, Emily
Gabeler, Tamara Kroboth, and
From left: Lindsey Krecko, Dr. Debra Cinotti,
and Jason Kneller
and Lindsey Krecko; and the Eleanor
Bushee Senior Dental Student Award,
which recognizes outstanding leadership in a senior female dental student,
to Stephanie Demas.
17
ACADEMICEVENTS
Top left clockwise: Dr. Steven London, Tamara Kroboth, Emily Gabeler, Matthew Battiste, and Stephanie Weiss; Steven Lee and family; Dr. London and
Kroboth; and Dean Barry Rifkin during his welcoming remarks.
Dr. Maria Emanuel Ryan, associate
dean for strategic planning and external
affairs, presented the Charles and Maria
Ryan Scholarship in Oral Biology and
Pathology Award to Lindsey Scheer, the
third-year student who demonstrated
excellence in the field of oral biology
and who conducted substantive
research in the School of Dental
Medicine. Dr. Soosan Ghazizadeh, associate professor of oral biology and
pathology, presented Natalie Bitton with
the Dr. A. John Gwinnett Dental Student
Memorial Award for attaining the highest academic average in oral biology and
pathology. Dr. Alice Urbankova, associ-
18
ate professor of general dentistry, presented the Academy of Operative
Dentistry Award to Elisheva Rosenfeld,
the graduate who demonstrated outstanding ability in the field of operative
dentistry.
Steven Lee received the Dimitrios
Kilimitzoglou Pioneer in Dentistry
Award for outstanding zeal and innovation; Krecko was awarded the School of
Dental Medicine Alumni Award of
Excellence for community service and
vision for the future of the School.
Senior students were recognized for
special achievements in the clinical disciplines by their respective department
chair or representatives. Special interest groups or dental specialty
professional societies sponsored most
of these awards. The Dental Student
Organization (DSO) awarded Tjark
Beaven for leadership in service to the
School and community, and for her outstanding record in mentoring fellow
dental students. Dr. Christopher
Salierno received a DSO Award for his
professional leadership and support of
the American Student Dental
Association chapter. The DSO chose Dr.
William Tinkler as its role model and
grand marshal of the 2008 graduation
ceremony. n
ACADEMICEVENTS
Graduating class of 2009
What’s Next for the Graduates?
Class of 2009
Efraim Fuzailov, TBA
Internship Placements
Jigar Gandhi, GPR, Veterans Administration
Medical Center, Bronx, N.Y.
Shashi Ahlawat, General Practice Residency
Lisa Grossman, GPR, North Shore University
(GPR), Veterans Administration Medical Center,
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Nachum Augenbaum, GPR, New York Hospital
Medical Center, Flushing, N.Y.
Sofiya Beletskaya, GPR, Stony Brook University
Medical Center, Stony Brook, N.Y.
Natalie Bitton, Advanced Education Program
in Orthodontics, Montefiore Medical Center,
Bronx, N.Y.
Todd Brilliant, GPR, Veterans Administration
Hospital, Manhasset, N.Y.
Atul Gulati, GPR, Kingsbrook Jewish Medical
Center, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Skeena Haider-Shah, GPR, Faxton-St. Luke’s
Healthcare, Utica, N.Y.
Christopher Joubert, GPR, Veterans
Administration Medical Center, Northport, N.Y.
Rachel King, Advanced Education Program in
Pedodontics, University of Medicine and Dentistry
of New Jersey, Newark, N.J.
San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, Calif.
Alice Cheng, GPR, Stony Brook University
Michael Manasar, GPR, Veterans
Darien Papando, GPR, Stony Brook University
Medical Center, Stony Brook, N.Y.
Nicole Ptak, GPR, North Shore University
Hospital, Manhasset, N.Y.
Shu Ping Rong, GPR, Queens Hospital Center,
Jamaica, N.Y.
Amir Sadighpour, GPR, New York Hospital
Medical Center, Flushing, N.Y.
Lindsey Scheer, Advanced Education Program
in Pediatric Dentistry, University of
Rochester/Eastman Dental Center, Rochester, N.Y.
Asya Shor, GPR, Stony Brook University Medical
Center, Stony Brook, N.Y.
Lauren Strauss, GPR, Carolinas Medical
Center, Charlotte, N.C.
Medical Center, Stony Brook, N.Y.
Administration, Hudson Valley Healthcare System,
Castle Point, N.Y.
Jennifer Sung, GPR, Veterans Administration
Medical Center, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Elizabeth Doroski, GPR, North Shore University
Corin Marantz, Advanced Education Program in
Hospital, Manhasset, N.Y.
Piya Trehan, GPR, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill
Periodontics, Virginia Commonwealth University,
Richmond, Va.
Cornell Hospital, New York, N.Y.
Bahram Elaahi, GPR, Stony Brook University
Medical Center, Stony Brook, N.Y.
Mariya Trentcheva, GPR, NewYorkBrian McCormack, GPR, Veterans
Administration Medical Center, Northport, N.Y.
Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Hospital, New York,
N.Y.
Danielle Fridline, GPR, Nassau University
Medical Center, East Meadow, N.Y.
Bryan Meriam, Advanced Education Program in
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Albert Einstein
College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center,
Bronx, N.Y.
Anjali Williamson, Advanced Education
Program in Pediatric Dentistry, Children’s
National Medical Center, Washington, D.C.
Tacha Fuchs, GPR, North Shore University
Gen Ohkawa, GPR, New York Hospital Medical
Nazmus Zahangir, GPR, Stony Brook University
Medical Center, Stony Brook, N.Y.
Gianna Ferranti, GPR, Department of Veterans
Affairs, Dallas, Texas
Hospital, Manhasset, N.Y.
Center, Flushing, N.Y.
Jared Funt, GPR, Stony Brook University
Matthew Paonessa, Advanced Education
Medical Center, Stony Brook, N.Y.
Program in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Long
Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, N.Y.
19
ACADEMICEVENTS
Graduating class of 2008
Class of 2008
Regina Hendricks, Pediatric Dentistry,
Internship Placements
Schneider Children’s Hospital, New Hyde
Park, N.Y.
Robert Arama, General Practice Residency
Brian Hunter, GPR, Stony Brook University
(GPR), St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center,
New York, N.Y.
Taly Argove, Periodontics, Stony Brook
University School of Dental Medicine, Stony
Brook, N.Y.
Matthew Battiste, Orthodontics, University
of Rochester/Eastman Dental Center,
Rochester, N.Y.
Tjark Beaven, GPR, Veterans Administration
Medical Center, Northport, N.Y.
Sergey Berenshteyn, GPR, Stony Brook
University Medical Center, Stony Brook, N.Y.
Alexander Bogler, GPR, Stony Brook University
Medical Center, Stony Brook, N.Y.
Charlie Chen, GPR, Long Island College
Hospital, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Stephanie Demas, GPR, Stony Brook University
Medical Center, Stony Brook, N.Y.
James Denunzio, GPR, Nassau University
Medical Center, East Meadow, N.Y.
Steven Klein, GPR, North Shore University
Hospital, Manhasset, N.Y.
Jason Kneller, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery,
Washington Hospital Center, Washington, D.C.
Lindsey Krecko, GPR, Illinois Masonic Medical
Center, Chicago, Ill.
Tamara Kroboth, Advanced Education Program
Hospital Center, New York, N.Y.
Betty Samuel, GPR, Stony Brook University
Medical Center, Stony Brook, N.Y.
Steven Lee, GPR, Veterans Administration
Medical Center, Bronx, N.Y.
Millilanie Sim, GPR, Stony Brook University
Medical Center, Stony Brook, N.Y.
Robert Mikhli, GPR, Queens Hospital Center,
Dani Weichholz, Advanced Education Program
in Periodontics, Columbia University,
New York, N.Y.
Jamaica, N.Y.
Jonathan Neman, GPR, Stony Brook University
Medical Center, Stony Brook, N.Y.
Michael Nguyen, Advanced Education Program
in Periodontics, University of Maryland,
Baltimore, Md.
Elayne Pappas, Advanced Education Program
Emily Gabeler, Pediatric Dentistry, Jacobi
in Pediatric Dentistry, Stony Brook University,
School of Dental Medicine, Stony Brook, N.Y.
20
Harrison Rubinstein, GPR, St. Luke’s-Roosevelt
Jared Seltzer, GPR, Stony Brook University
Albany, N.Y.
Center, Flushing, N.Y.
Elisheva Rosenfeld, Advanced Education
Program in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery,
Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde
Park, N.Y.
in Orthodontics, Stony Brook University School of
Dental Medicine, Stony Brook, N.Y.
Claire Paik, GPR, Veterans Administration
Medical Center, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Chava Gofer, GPR, New York Hospital Medical
Sonali Patel, GPR, University of North
Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Medical Center, Stony Brook, N.Y.
Anthony Desantis, GPR, St. Peter’s Hospital,
Medical Center, Bronx, N.Y.
Dhvanit Patel, GPR, Nassau University Medical
Center, East Meadow, N.Y.
Candice Park, GPR, Veterans Administration
Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los
Angeles, Calif.
Medical Center, Stony Brook, N.Y.
Adam Weiss, GPR, Nassau University Medical
Center, East Meadow, N.Y.
Stephanie Weiss, Advanced Education Program
in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kings County
Hospital Center, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Kirstin Wolfe, GPR, Nassau University Medical
Center, East Meadow, N.Y.
James Yang, Department of Veterans Affairs
Northern California Health Care System, Mare
Island Outpatient Clinic, Vallejo, Calif.
24
NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
STONY BROOK
UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF DENTAL MEDICINE
160 ROCKLAND HALL
STONY BROOK, NY 11794-8700